Page 69 of Bitter Queen (Advantage Play 4)

Scoffing, Stefan pours himself a cup of coffee. “That sounds promising.”

“The majority are turning to Lucca Russo for guidance since his dad was taken in during the tournament. But he’s a pussy who’s terrified to stand up to the Romanos, yet doesn’t want to look weak by bending the knee too quickly,” Dex explains.

“Then it’s about time we form an alliance with Lucca, don’t you think?” Kingston suggests. My gaze darts over to Stefan as soon as the suggestion rolls off Kingston’s tongue. He’s frozen, but it doesn’t stop my smirk from threatening to break through the surface.

About. Damn. Time.

Matteo had mentioned the idea when I last saw him, but it sounds better and better every time I hear it.

“With Lucca?” Dex scratches his jaw and considers the family. “He’s…an asshole but is harmless if we can get him on our side.”

Satisfied, Kingston approaches Stefan and slaps him on the back. “Then I assume congratulations will be in order.”

“What?” Dex interjects, confused.

Throwing my brother a bone, I explain, “A while back, Stefan suggested a solution regarding the Russo family and offered to marry the younger sister to form an alliance.”

“Emilia?” Dex’s brows furrow.

“That’s the one,” I confirm, not bothering to hide my grin as Stefan blushes like a schoolgirl. The guy has had a thing for her since he was ordered to spy on a secret meeting between Burlone and Emilia’s dad, Lorenzo Russo, a few years back. He’s had a hard-on for her ever since.

“Shut the hell up, D,” Stefan prickles when he catches my Cheshire cat grin.

“Why? You should be chipper with the news, don’t you think? You’re gonna finally get your girl.”

“If Lucca says yes,” Stefan grumbles. He brings the coffee to his mouth and takes a long gulp of the scorching liquid.

Kingston rolls his eyes. “He’ll say yes.”

“You don’t know that,” Stefan argues. “Your dad hated Lorenzo Russo. The families have been enemies for as long as I’ve been a Romano.”

“Times have changed,” Kingston offers. “If he doesn’t agree to the marriage, then we’ll wipe the family out. Lucca knows that as well as we do because you’re right. We’ve been enemies for decades. But, unlike his father, Lucca doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing as a mob boss. He’s desperate for someone to take over while still keeping the respect his father cultured. The Russo family is finished without the backing of the Romanos. And this looks like the perfect opportunity to present the alliance. Don’t you think, Dex?”

“Yeah. I’ll speak with him and see what he says.”

“Good. And Stefan?” Kingston prods.

“Yeah?”

“Looks like your patience is gonna pay off. But let’s plan the ceremony after this shitstorm has passed, okay?”

He takes another long gulp of his drink before staring at its contents as if it holds all the answers in the world. Then he sighs. “Yeah.”

25

Diece

“This is a terrible idea,” I mutter under my breath. With my focus glued on Blue, she sways into the little restaurant in a tank top and shorts. The combination shows off her long legs and perky tits, making my molars grind together with every step.

“You say that every time,” Dex points out. “And every time, she’s been fine.”

“Doesn’t make me feel any better. It only takes one time for all hell to break loose.”

Dex pats my back, but it only feeds my annoyance. Shrugging away from him, I give him a glare that dares him to try it again.

He laughs. “Come on, D. We’ll be able to see her the entire time, and we can hear every word through the mic.” He taps his earpiece that matches mine. It relays everything happening around Blue and has a GPS attached to it in case we lose visual at any point during one of these bullshit missions.

Cursing under my breath, I ignore him and look down the barrel of the scope to check on her again.

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